NBA Roundup: Spurs 91, Mavericks 79

Published Wednesday, April 11, 2001

SAN ANTONIO -- David Robinson came off his only absence of the season to score a season-high 34 points as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Dallas Mavericks 91-79 Tuesday night to clinch the Midwest Division title.

Robinson, who sat out Sunday's win over Golden State with a sore back, scored six straight points late in the third quarter to put the Spurs up by 16.

Robinson, who had his first 30-point game of the season, also had six blocks and 11 rebounds. Tim Duncan scored 25 points as the Spurs won their fifth straight game and improved their NBA-leading record (56-22).

Michael Finley had 25 points for the Mavericks, who lost the season series 3-1. Dirk Nowitzki had 20.

Juwan Howard, who averaged 24.8 points last week, was held to 16 by Duncan.

The Mavericks (49-28), who lost their second straight game and dropped two games behind Utah for fourth place in the West, need one more win for the third 50-win season in franchise history.

After a tight first half with 10 lead changes, the Spurs took off late in the third quarter with 10 straight points by Robinson and Malik Rose to go up 68-52.

Robinson capped the spurt with a dunk after he grabbed a rebound off his own missed layup.

Notes: Duncan and Robinson scored 19 of the Spurs' 21 points in the first quarter. Duncan had 12. ... Nowitzki picked up three of his four fouls in the first quarter. ... Wang Zhizhi, the first NBA player born in China, was scoreless in three minutes of play but picked up two fouls.